PBGC has determined the premium rates applicable for the 2024 plan year in accordance with the indexing rules provided in section 4006 of ERISA, and updated the Premium Rates web page accordingly.   MORE >>

"Plan sponsors should have started counting and tracking part-time employee hours as of January 1, 2021. Now is the time to look at that data to determine which employees may be required to be eligible to make elective deferrals as of January 1, 2024. Don't forget that certain employees may be excluded from this new eligibility rule (such as employees subject to a collective bargaining agreement) and that these employees can be excluded from certain nondiscrimination testing."   MORE >>

"Global adoption of artificial intelligence in all industries is happening at a breakneck pace -- the retirement plan space included. It's not a question of if, but how, it will affect plan advisors, sponsors, and participants.... [Potential uses for AI include:] [1] More efficiently performing advisor and home office operational and administrative processes. [2] Communicating with clients through next generation chatbots and other automated features. [3] Gathering, sorting, and applying industry data. Improving regulatory and compliance monitoring and oversight. [4] Addressing inherent and detrimental human biases identified with behavioral economics."   MORE >>

"Most U.S. retirement plans offer participants an investment alternative designed to provide capital preservation. Both money market and stable value funds fit this objective ... While these two investment products serve the same purpose, their returns are driven by very different investment strategies. It is also important to know there are contractual restrictions that make it very difficult for plan sponsors to offer both of these vehicles in a plan's investment menu simultaneously or easily switch between the two."   MORE >>

"Advancements in managed accounts have driven down fees, complexities and poor user experiences to improve customized retirement savings ... While a recent defined-contribution-only investing survey ... found some growth in managed account use as a default in retirement plans, there is still hesitation from plan advisers and consultants due in part to cost and in part to litigation concerns"   MORE >>

21 presentation slides. "The current financial/actuarial status of the OASDI trust funds: cost is rising as percent of payroll from 2010 to 2035.... The reduced share of earnings subject to payroll tax explains most of the increase in cost as percent of payroll, compared to the projection in 1983.... So, by 2034, we need to reduce scheduled benefits by one- fourth or increase revenue by one-third.... Demographic trends affecting the systems."   MORE >>

"[T]his notice postpones [certain] due dates ... until October 7, 2024 ... [T]he following types of taxpayers are ... eligible for the relief provided in this notice: [1] Any individual whose principal residence, and any business entity or sole proprietor whose principal place of business, is located in the State of Israel, the West Bank or Gaza (covered area); [2] Any individual affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization and who is assisting in the covered area, such as a relief worker; [3] Any individual, business entity or sole proprietor, or estate or trust whose tax return preparer or records necessary to meet a deadline for postponed acts are located in the covered area; [4] Any spouse of an affected taxpayer, solely with regard to a joint return of two married individuals; and [5] Any individual visiting the covered area who was killed, injured, or taken hostage as a result of the October 7, 2023 Terrorist Attacks."   MORE >>

"After years of mortality improvements, a slowing of life expectancy gains resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered uncertainty for life insurers and annuity providers.... But while the number of deaths increased (to the degree that average U.S. life expectancy dropped by almost two years), new business strain from record-setting premium growth in 2019 to 2021 (also driven by the pandemic) had a greater impact on life insurers' earnings[.]"   MORE >>